# Accident 19970918027189A: Bbavia 7KCAB, Oakridge, OR, September 18, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 1997, 16:20 local time
- Place: Oakridge, OR
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.7397° N, 122.4103° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7397&lon=-122.4103&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8509, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8509-2000-01-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 7KCAB (registry code 1220701, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7kcab) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BBAVIA 7KCAB
- Reported engine: LYC IO320B2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 3,500 total, 115 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA97LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA212) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970918027189A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FLYING LOW 10-15 FT ABOVE THE WATER, OVER OAKRIDGE LAKE WHEN IT ROLLED AND STRUCK TREES. DESTROYED. OTHER CIRCUMSTA (.4)THE FIRST PILOT (COMMERCIAL PILOT AND CFI) INVITED THE SECOND PILOT (PRIVATE PILOT) TO FLY WITH HIM ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT IN A TANDEM-SEATED AEROBATIC AIRPLANE.  THE FIRST PILOT SAT IN THE REAR SEAT BEHIND THE SECOND PILOT.  DURING THE FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO FLY ABOUT 10 FEET ABOVE A LAKE.  THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN OBSERVED TO BEGIN A CLIMB OVER A DAM AND PERFORM A BARREL ROLL ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE DAM.  DURING THE MANEUVER, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO TALL TREES THAT WERE LOCATED ON A HILLSIDE NEAR THE LOWER, DRY SECTION OF THE DAM.  THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING UNDER POWER AT THE TIME OF IMPACT.  AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AND THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.  AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FIRST PILOT HAD A RECENT HISTORY OF PERFORMING LOW ALTITUDE AEROBATIC MANEUVERS.  HE ALSO HAD A RECENT HISTORY OF PERFORMING THE MANEUVERS HIMSELF WHEN HE TOOK PASSENGERS OR OTHER PILOTS WITH HIM.  NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND                                                                                                              WAS FOUND IN THE AUTOPSIES TO INDICATE THAT ANYONE OTHER THAN THE FIRST PILOT WAS MANIPULATING THE CONTROLS AT IMPACT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA97LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA212), Sep 18, 1997: Bellanca 7KCAB (N8509), Oakridge, OR, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The first pilot's decision to perform a low altitude maneuver, and his subsequent failure to maintain altitude and clearance from trees during a low altitude maneuver.

## Other reports on N8509 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19790729027889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790729027889A), Jul 29, 1979: Blanca 7KCAB (N8509), Lawton, OK, Substantial damage. Left landing gear attach bolts broke during landing roll. Acft had made repeated landings on the rough field..

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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